Supernova Remnant in a Stratified Medium: Explicit, Analytical Approximations for Adiabatic Expansion and Radiative Cooling

We propose simple, explicit, analytical approximations for the kinematics of an adiabatic blast wave propagating in an exponentially stratified ambient medium, and for the onset of radiative cooling, which ends the adiabatic era. Our method, based on the Kompaneets implicit solution and the Kahn approximation for the radiative cooling coefficient, gives straightforward estimates for the size, expansion velocity, and progression of cooling times over the surface, when applied to supernova remnants (SNRs). The remnant shape is remarkably close to spherical for moderate density gradients, but even a small gradient in ambient density causes the cooling time to vary substantially over the remnant's surface, so that for a considerable period there will be a cold dense expanding shell covering only a part of the remnant. Our approximation provides an effective tool for identifying the approximate parameters when planning 2-dimensional numerical models of SNRs, the example of W44 being given in a subsequent paper.Comment: ApJ accepted, 11 pages, 2 figures embedded, aas style with ecmatex.sty and lscape.sty package

HLA-B27 Positivity: associated health implications

HLA-B27 positivity makes the onset of autoimmune diseases such as uveitis, ankylosing spondylitis and Crohn's disease more likely to occur. Ankylosing spondylitis and Crohn's disease are two types of HLA-B27 positive diseases that demonstrate a direct association with uveitis. Although the possession of HLA-B27 positivity is not mandatory for autoimmune diseases such as uveitis to occur, HLA-B27 positivity not only makes it more likely but may modify the clinical picture in which a patient presents. In relation to assessment and diagnosis it is imperative that the medical history of patients is thoroughly examined to ensure pathological sequelae are appropriately treated. Nurses play an important role in assessing patients that have uveitis and should suspect ankylosing spondylitis or Crohn's disease may be present

Knowlesi malaria in Vietnam

The simian malaria parasite Plasmodium knowlesi is transmitted in the forests of Southeast Asia. Symptomatic zoonotic knowlesi malaria in humans is widespread in the region and is associated with a history of spending time in the jungle. However, there are many settings where knowlesi transmission to humans would be expected but is not found. A recent report on the Ra-glai population of southern central Vietnam is taken as an example to help explain why this may be so

Multiple Molecular H2 Outflows in AFGL 618

We report high spatial (0.5 arcsec) and high spectral (9 km/s) resolution spectro-imaging of the 2.12 micron H2 1-0 S(1) line in the proto-planetary nebula AFGL 618 using BEAR at the CFHT. The observations reveal the presence of multiple, high-velocity, molecular outflows that align with the remarkable optical jets seen in HST images. The structure and kinematics of the outflows show how jets interact with circumstellar gas and shape the environment in which planetary nebulae form.Comment: 14 pages, 5 figures. To appear in The Astrophysical Journal Letter

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and molecular hydrogen in oxygen-rich planetary nebulae: the case of NGC6720

Evolved stars are primary sources for the formation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and dust grains. Their circumstellar chemistry is usually designated as either oxygen-rich or carbon-rich, although dual-dust chemistry objects, whose infrared spectra reveal both silicate- and carbon-dust features, are also known. The exact origin and nature of this dual-dust chemistry is not yet understood. Spitzer-IRS mid-infrared spectroscopic imaging of the nearby, oxygen-rich planetary nebula NGC6720 reveals the presence of the 11.3 micron aromatic (PAH) emission band. It is attributed to emission from neutral PAHs, since no band is observed in the 7 to 8 micron range. The spatial distribution of PAHs is found to closely follow that of the warm clumpy molecular hydrogen emission. Emission from both neutral PAHs and warm H2 is likely to arise from photo-dissociation regions associated with dense knots that are located within the main ring. The presence of PAHs together with the previously derived high abundance of free carbon (relative to CO) suggest that the local conditions in an oxygen-rich environment can also become conducive to in-situ formation of large carbonaceous molecules, such as PAHs, via a bottom-up chemical pathway. In this scenario, the same stellar source can enrich the interstellar medium with both oxygen-rich dust and large carbonaceous molecules.Comment: Accepted by MNRAS. 5 page

Blind estimation of reverberation time in classrooms and hospital wards

This paper investigates blind Reverberation Time (RT) estimation in occupied classrooms and hospital wards. Measurements are usually made while these spaces are unoccupied for logistical reasons. However, occupancy can have a significant impact on the rate of reverberant decay. Recent work has developed a Maximum Likelihood Estimation (MLE) method which utilises only passively recorded speech and music signals, this enables measurements to be made while the room is in use. In this paper the MLE method is applied to recordings made in classrooms during lessons. Classroom occupancy levels differ for each lesson, therefore a model is developed using blind estimates to predict the RT for any occupancy level to within ±0.07s for the mid-frequency octave bands. The model is also able to predict the effective room and per person absorption area. Ambient sound recordings were also carried out in a number of rooms in two hospitals for a week. Hospital measurements are more challenging as the occurrence of free reverberant decay is rarer than in schools and the acoustic conditions may be non-stationary. However, by gaining recordings over a period of a week, estimates can be gained within ±0.07 s. These estimates are representative of the times when the room contains the highest acoustic absorption. In other words when curtains are drawn, there are many visitors or perhaps a window may be open